SEATTLE (AP) — Wildfires that have been burning for three weeks continue to blanket parts of Eastern Washington with smoke.
The state Ecology Department reports air monitors detect hazardous Friday air in Cashmere and Liberty, and unhealthy air in Wenatchee, Entiat, Pateros and Quincy.
The agency says air quality in most of Eastern Washington is no better than moderate. Colville and Dayton are a couple of spots with good air Friday.
Ecology forecaster Clint Bowman says a cold front may clear out the smoke this weekend, but the fires are still burning and the smoke is expected to remain a problem into next week.
The smoke and firefighting activity at the Table Mountain fire forced the closure Friday of 27 miles of Highway 97 over Blewett Pass.
– Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
